Justice News

Jury Finds Hartford Man Guilty of Murder

United States Attorney Deirdre M. Daly and Chief State’s Attorney Kevin T. Kane today announced that a federal jury in New Haven has found KARL ROYE, also known as “Eagle,” 25, of Hartford, guilty of committing the murder of Anthony Parker of Hartford in April 2011. Yesterday, after a week-long trial before U.S. District Judge Janet Bond Arterton, ROYE was convicted of one count of conspiracy to commit a Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering and one count of committing a Violent Crime in Aid of Racketeering.

Judge Arterton scheduled sentencing for October 27, 2016, at which time ROYE faces a mandatory life term of imprisonment.

“The U.S. Attorney’s Office is committed to prosecuting dangerous offenders and reducing violent crime in our cities,” said U.S. Attorney Daly. “We know that shootings and murders in our cities are committed by a very small number of city residents. This murder, like so many that we have seen before, was the result of a conflict and perceived threat between members of rival groups. We will continue to focus our attention on these groups until the shootings and murders stop. I commend the FBI Task Force, DEA and Hartford Police Department for their excellent investigative work in bringing to justice those responsible for this murder. I also want to thank our partners in the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office for their unceasing efforts in solving this and many other cold case murders.”

“This case again demonstrates that the dedication of the U.S. Attorney’s Office, FBI, DEA, Hartford Police Department and the Cold Case Bureau of the Chief State’s Attorney’s Office can bring some measure of satisfaction to families who have suffered so grievously at the hands of violent criminals,” said Chief State’s Attorney Kane. “I want to thank federal authorities for their continuing efforts in combating the violence that plagues our most vulnerable citizens.”

This matter stems from a long-term investigation being conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, DEA and Hartford Police Department into narcotics trafficking by members and associates of the Westhell and Team Grease groups and group-related violent activity. The Cold Case Unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney is actively participating in the investigation.

At approximately 10:47 a.m. on the morning of April 6, 2011, the Hartford Police Department received a report of shots fired in the vicinity of 15 Thomaston Street in the Blue Hills Section of Hartford. Officers responding to the scene located Anthony Parker, also known as “Smooth,” 24, seated in the driver’s seat of a vehicle in the driveway of 15 Thomaston Street. Parker was unconscious and suffering from multiple gunshot wounds. Parker was transported by ambulance to Saint Francis Hospital where he ultimately succumbed to his injuries and was pronounced deceased.

ROYE and Jimel Frank, also known as “30” and “Velly,” were members of the Wall Street group, which later became generally known as “Team Grease.” According to trial testimony and the evidence presented during the trial, ROYE and Frank, who were both armed with 9mm handguns, opened fire on Parker from opposite sides of the vehicle in which he was seated.

Frank pleaded guilty on November 12, 2015, and awaits sentencing.

The homicide of Anthony “Smooth” Parker was included in cold case playing cards sold to inmates in Connecticut’s state correctional facilities. Each card in the deck features a photograph and brief details about a homicide or missing person case and lists telephone, mail and e-mail contacts that inmates can use to supply information.

This investigation has been conducted by the FBI’s Northern Connecticut Violent Crimes Task Force, DEA, Hartford Police Department and Cold Case Unit of the Office of the Chief State’s Attorney. The FBI Task Force includes members of the Hartford Police Department, East Hartford Police Department, Connecticut State Police and Connecticut Department of Correction.

The case is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John H. Durham and Assistant State’s Attorney Andrew Reed Durham, who has been cross-designated as a Special Assistant U.S. Attorney in this matter.